Method and means for producing holes in metallic members



METHOD AND MEANS FOR PRODUCING HOLES IN METALLIC MEMBERS Filed March 29,1961 C. J. KRUGER Nov. 26, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 l5 Zla IIIII//IIIIIIIII V I5 jl?) Invenlor H camuuvs J'OHANNLS YAUGER M Attorneys5 1. F m 0% Qm 0. M l .1 7 M I I 5 I 6 .0 FM

Nov. 26, 1963 J. KRUGER 3,1 1,97

METHOD AND MEANS FOR PRODUCING HOLES IN METALLIC MEMBERS Filed March 29.1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor CORNELIUS JUHQMNES KRUG'EQ Attorneys Nov.26, 1963 c. J. KRUGER 3,1 1 9 METHOD AND MEANS FOR PRODUCING HOLES INMETALLIC MEMBERS Filed March 29, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 InventorCORNELIUS UOHRNNES UH/GER 7 a Z WMA A Home 5 3,1 11,977 METHOD AND MEANSFOR PRODUCING HOLES IN METALLIC MEMBERS Filed March 29. 1961 C. J.KRQGER Nov. 26, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 lnvenlor CORNELIUS JOHANNES KRUGERWM A florneys Nov. 26, 1963 C J. KRQGER METHOD AND MEANS FOR PRODUCINGHOLES IN METALLIC MEMBERS Filed March 29, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Q Q Q QQ Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q QQQQ Q QQ Q Q Q Q Q QQ Q Q Inventor COKNEL'VS JDHANNES KRUOER United States Patent Ofilice3,111,977 Patented Nov. 26, 1963 3,111,977 METHOD AND MEANS FORPRODUCING HOLES IN METALLIC MEMBERS Cornelius Johannes Kriiger,Kronebloem van Bookenhoutkloof, Cullinan, Transvaal Province, Republicof South Africa, assignor to himself and South African Iron and SteelIndustrial Corporation Limited, Pretoria,

South Africa Filed Mar. 29, 1961, Ser. No. 99,100 5 Claims. (Cl. 153-4)This invention relates to an improved method and the means for producingholes in metallic members.

More particularly, the invention relates to an improved method and themeans for producing holes in rolled metal plates, bars, structuralsections and similar metallic members.

In the steel or other industry, where it is necessary to produce holescontinuously in metallic members according to mass production, suchholes are invariably produced by a punching process. Difiiculties areencountered with the punching process when the holes are small inrelation to the thickness of the metal. This applies particularly whenholes of approximately the same size as or smaller than the thickness ofthe metal to be perforated are to be punched and when rather slenderpunches must be used. With slender punches, the thickness of the cut andthe shearing forces become relatively large and consequently suchslender punches must, therefore, withstand large forces with theresultant danger that they will wear quickly, become deformed and breakeasily thus causing at frequent intervals undesirable interruptions ofoperations.

In order to avoid this, larger holes can be punched than are reallyrequired for the purpose but this procedure weakens the sectionunnecessarily and may be objectionable for other reasons and expenditureis needlessly increased.

Using a softer material, which is easier to work, to solve this problem,reduces the strength and load bearing capacity of the metallic memberand is thus not always practicable.

Drilling of holes is expensive and uneconomical when a multiplicity ofholes must be produced in a substantially continuous process.

The present invention is based on the recognition that in many cases,such as when wires have to be threaded through holes or clips have to beaffixed, the holes need not necessarily be of circular shape nor is itnecessary for the direction of the holes to be at right angles to theplane of the material being perforated and that indentation ordeformation of the material adjacent the holes or perforations is notnecessarily objectionable but may actually be so arranged as to beadvantageous.

It is an object of this invention to provide a method and the meanswhereby holes of a special type and not necessarily circular in shape,are readily produced at an inclined angle in rolled steel fencingstandards, structural sections or metallic members with the aid ofrobust means while the holes produced may be relatively small incomparison to the thickness of the material but can be readily andeasily varied to suit different requirements.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and the means toprovide perforations of very small magnitude in metallic members wherethe shape of such perforations need not be circular and where no wires,clips or the like need be threaded through such perforations.

A further object of this invention is to provide methods of cheaply andreadily producing holes of particular types in metallic members in sucha way that such members are not substantially weakened at such locationsas is the case with conventional punching of holes in rolled steel bars,

structural sections and like metallic members which become weakened atthe positions of the holes.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a type of hole ofwhich the sharpness of the cut edge to the hole is much reduced and theedges of the holes are provided with shoulders or faces thus presentinga broader or wider support than is the case with a conventional holewhere only the thickness of the material perforated is presented to thewire or similar material which is required to be threaded through suchhole. Where holes are punched in the conventional manner, the sharpnessof the edges of the holes is a function of the thickness of the materialpunched. These sharp edges corrode easily and abrade or cut any wire orsimilar material which may be threaded through such hole.

According to the invention, the method of producing holes in rolledsteel bars, structural sections and like metallic members comprises theshearing of the metal along a short distance and deforming the metaladjacent such shear cut, such shearing and deformation of the metalbeing effected simultaneously by punch-like shearing tools.

More particularly, the deformation of the metal adjacent the shear cutis by an indenting, bending, stretching and/or drawing action. Suchdeformation of the metal is according to a substantially hood-likescalloped shell shape and such deformation of the metal can be either onone side of the shear cut only or the metal on both sides of the shearcut may be deformed by such indentation. When indenting the materialadjacent both sides of the shear cut, such indentations are in oppositedirections and consequently project from both faces of the metallicmemher in which they are produced.

Such a hole is produced in the metal by means of two coacting juxtaposedand relatively movable punch-like shearing tools for shearing the metalalong a short distance and simultaneously indenting the regions of themetal adjacent at least one side of the shear cut and simultaneouslyforcing or displacing the transverse face, formed by the shearingaction, of the deformed region away from and out of alignment with theother face formed by such shearing action.

Twin holed protuberances may be readily formed in the metal from which acombination of coacting punch-like shearing tools is employed. To thisend two cuts are made simultaneously, which are parallel to each otheror symmetrical to a central plane between them. As required, the holesof a pair may face each other or may be directed away from each other.

More particularly, the method of this invention provides for theproduction of holes with the creation of protuberances in fencingstandards, posts or other structural or metallic members in such a waythat a minimum of cutting and no removal of the parent metal iseffected. The formation of the holes and protuberances or scallops isdone by shearing the material in one plane and simultaneously indenting,stretching or drawing the metal adjacent the shear cut line. Thepunch-like shearing tools are each provided with one cutting edge alongone flat face for shearing of the material whereas the other part ofeach tool, adjacent the cutting edge, is adapted to exert pressure asrequired on the metal in order to indent or bend and draw or stretch thematerial adjacent the shear out line. A specific rake of the metaldeforming part of the punch-like shearing tool, extending from thecutting edge thereof, serves to provide for easy release of the toolafter having completed its stroke, by causing during the punch-likeaction the displaced material to move away from the plane of the shearcut.

Each hoodlike scalloped shell-shaped deformation may be deformed to suchextent that the inner edge is within the outer faces of the metal whichis not deformed or may extend beyond such faces.

The punch-like shearing tools used in the formation of holes accordingto the method of this invention may have a cross-sectional area which islarge in relation to the size of the hole to be formed to therebyprovide punchlike shearing tools which are robust. Furthermore, suchpunch-like shearing tools can easily be resharpened and reconditioned.

The specific shape of the deforming part of a punchlike shearing toolalso creates in the indenting, deforming or drawing action an approachor lead-in to the hole which acts as a shoulder or support to a wire orsimilar element which may be threaded through the hole.

A hole having approximately the shape of a segment cut out of a circleis readily formed by indentation or deformation of the material on onlyone side of the shear cut and in which case the material on the otherside remains more or less in the original position. The regions of themetal on both sides of the shear cut line are preferably displaced inopposite outward directions which is effected simultaneously with theshearing action thus forming a hole which is symmetrical about an axisparallel to the plane of the material in which the hole is formed andabout an axis at right angles thereto. At the same time, the facesformed by the shearing action in the metal are forced away from eachother so as to release the punch-like shearing tools after thecompletion of the operating stroke. Deformation of the metal on one orboth sides of the shear cut is effected according to an indenting ordrawing action.

The indented parts of the protuberances or scalloped shell-shapeddeformations form convenient guides for wires, clip devices or suchother members to be threaded through the hole formed between them.

Holes of other shapes, such as for instance of oval shape or having theapproximate shape of a segment of a polygon or the like, may also becreated, With suitably shaped tools.

When producing holes according to this invention, the metal, of whichthe section to be perforated is made, is stressed only to a limitedextent. This is particularly the case when two identations ordeformations are made in opposite directions. Protuberance of thematerial can then, if so desired, be limited to such an extent that ashallow hole is formed and the inner edges of the identations do notprotrude beyond the section of the material which has not been deformed.The central axis of the hole will then be at an oblique angle and themetallic member being perforated is subjected to minimum deformation.Such slight deformation can be used and may be particularly suitable inmetallic members or sections of higher tensile strength steel, so thatthe invention is not limited in its application to metal of relativelylow tensile strength. Slight deformation of the meta] reduces the stressin the material and eliminates the risk of tearing or other damage. Theinvention is particularly useful for, but is not necessarily limited to,the punching in metallic members of holes of a size approximating to orsmaller than the thickness of the material being perforated.

As it is preferable to avoid producing holes transversely across thefibre in rolled sections, it is preferable for the shear cut to be madein the direction of the fibre of the rolled material.

In accordance with this invention, an economic method has been providedfor punching twin holes in a three bulb bell-shaped rolled sectionwithout cutting through and weakening the bulb at the apex. Saidweakening would defeat the object of the shape, viz. to achieve abalanced and favourable strength about both axes.

The production of holes according to the invention is furtheradvantageously carried out in a single stroke.

The means for producing a single hole according to the invention,comprises two punch-like shearing tools of which the one is arranged tobe slidable past the other. If so desired, but not essentially, adjacenteach punching shear a die may be provided for controlling or mouldingthe shaping of the outwardly directed face of the indented, deformed ordisplaced region of the metal whereas the pressure for the mouldingaction is effected by the noncutting part of the coacting tool.

When the indenting-like deformation of the metal ad jaeent the shear cutis on only one side of the shear cut, the one tool presents a straightcutting edge whereas there will be a little or no rake on the adjacentnon-shearing part of this tool which extends substantially at rightangles to the plane along which the coacting tool moves. The cuttingedge of the punch-like shearing and identing tool may be parabolic,converging or other suitable shape, depending on the shape and size ofthe hole to be formed. When deformation of the metal adjacent the shearcut is on both sides thereof and in opposite directions, the coactingtools are preferably both of similar shape.

The stroke of the punching machine should be readily adjustable so thatthe extent of travel of the punch-like shearing and indenting tool maybe limited to the exact required extent.

The method of producing holes according to this invention results in noscrap or waste material while the section or metallic member is notreduced in weight. The shear cuts produced in the section or memberreduce the strength of such section or member only to an insignificantdegree, particularly when small openings or perforations are formedrelative to the thickness of material.

Straightening, pointing and cutting of a rolled steel section, e.g. afencing standard or post, can also be carried out with other tools onthe same machine, if so desired, simultaneously with the creation of theholes according to the invention.

lf a large number of regularly spaced holes according to the inventionis to be made, the structural or like members or sections are best movedon at intervals between hole-forming actions or simultaneously multipleholeforming actions can be performed to ensure a rapid and mexpensiveoperation. It is also possible to mount the hole-forming and metaldeforming tools on a carrying holder rather like the socalled rotatingflying shear. By way of example, the tool carrying holder can be rotatedcontinuously and the sections or metallic members moved into position tobe processed when holing is to be actually made.

Reference will noW be made to the accompanying sheets of drawings fromwhich the various features of the method and the means according to thisinvention will be apparent.

In the drawings:

FIGURES 1 and 2 are schematic representations of the method and themeans according to this invention of punching a hole which for clarityis shown rather large but which can be relatively small compared withthe thickness of material being perforated, while metal adjacent theshear cut is deformed outwardly in one direction on y;

FIGURES 3 and 4 are views similar to FIGURES 1 and 2 and illustratemeans whereby the metal adjacent both sides of the shear cut isdisplaced outwardly in opposite directions to form a hole which, forclarity, is shown larger than the thickness of the material in which itis formed;

FIGURES 5 and 6 are schematic representations of coacting punch-likeshearing and metal deforming tools of modified shape;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary representation of punchlike shear and metaldeforming tools to simultaneously produce two opposing holes accordingto the invention and presenting on one side of the metal perforated asingle protuberance and on the other side two spaced protuberances;

FIGURE 8 is a pictorial representation showing twin holes in aplate-like member produced by the means shown in FIGURE 7 and providingentry and exit for, say, a threading wire, from one side of the plate;

FIGURES 9 to 16 are fragmentary pictorial views of rolled fencingstandards, post sections, or the like, provided with single or twinopposing holes produced according to the present invention;

FIGURE 17 is a vertical cross-section through a fencing standard ofbell-shaped section illustrating the application of the holing toolsbefore punch-shearing of twin opposing holes;

FIGURE 18 is a similar vertical cross-section of the upper part of thesection shown in FIGURE 17 at the completion of the action of the toolson such sections;

FIGURE 19 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the section shownin FIGURES l7 and 18, showing a hole produced according to the presentinvention;

FIGURE 20 is a cross-section on line XX-XX of FIGURE 19;

FIGURES 21 to 24 are cross-sectional views showing successive stages offixing a line wire to a standard or post provided with holes accordingto the present invention and embodying special clip means, alsoaccording to the present invention;

FIGURE 25 is a diagrammatic view showing an application of the inventionfor the attachment of ceiling wire netting to structural members; and

FIGURE 26 is a view showing an application of the invention for theattachment, with the aid of clips, of cables and piping to structuralmembers.

Referring to FIGURES l and 2 of the drawings, reference numerals 11 and12 denote the upper and lower punch-like shearing and metal indenting ordeforming tools, hereinafter termed punching shears." The punching shear11 provides in this embodiment a parabolicallyshaped cutting edge 13 onthe face 14 and an indenting or deforming part 15 with curved rake,while the lower punching shear 12 provides a straight cutting edge 13aon the end face 14. The lower punch holder 16 may be provided, if sodesired. with a contoured recess 17 (shown in broken lines in FIGURE 2)to limit the stroke of the upper punch 11 to ensure the positive desiredshaping of the metal region 18, which is bent or deformed outwardly bythe non-cutting part 15 of the upper punching shear 11.

During the operating action, the metal 20 is cut along a plane by thecutting edges 13 and 13a of the upper and lower punching shears l1 and12. The size of the hole 21:: formed is determined by the amount ofoverlap of the two punching shears. The part 15 of the upper punchingshear 11 does not cut the metal but exerts a deforming pressure on themetal so as to assist in creating the hole 21a and thus forming anapproach or lead-in towards such hole.

FIGURES 3 and 4 illustrate a variation of the method and means shown inFIGURES 1 and 2. The lower punching shear 12a is also provided, in thispreferred embodiment, with a contoured cutting edge 13 and the rakednon-cutting part 15 as in the case of the upper shear 11. Such part 15of both the upper and lower punching shears 11 and 12a press downwardsand upwards simultaneously whereby a short stroke is required for theformation of the hole 21, as the regions 18 of the metal 20 are forcedoutwardly in opposite directions. With this arrangement, approaches orlead-ins 22 to the hole 21 are also formed on both sides of the shearcut by the raked non-cutting parts 15 of the punching shears.

The shape of the cutting edges 13 of the faces 14 of the punching shearscan be provided with a different contour, such as, for instance,converging straight lines, as are shown by FIGURES 5 and 6, to provideblunt pointed V-shaped punching shears. A rounded contour of the cuttingedge 1.3 will result in a rounder hole while converging straight edgedpunching shears will result in a more or less square hole. Roundedcontours are required for material of higher tensile strength to providea broader cut and press and thus prevent rupture of the material.

The formation of a twin holed protuberance 23, see

FIGURE 8, is produced with the aid of two spaced upper punching shears11 which are arranged to form two parallel shear cuts by their cuttingedges 13, see FIGURE 7. The lower punching shear 12b comprises a memberpresenting two parallel vertical faces 14 and protruding cutting edges13. The lower punching shear 12b is actually a combination of twopunching shears in a single member and can be considered as two punchingshears 11 arranged in abutting back-toback relationship. The side facesof the lower punching shear 12b form spaced cutting edges for producingwith the cutting edges 13 of the upper punching shears 11 two parallelshear cuts and, with the protruding non-cutting parts 15 of the lowershearing punches the deformation of the material between such shear cutsproduce the single protuberance 23. The raked non-cutting parts 15 ofthe upper punching shears 11 deform the material outwardly adjacent thetwo shear cuts and indent the material downwards on either side thusforming approaches or lead-ins to the holes 21, and two protuberances orscallops on the lower side of the material. Such holed protuberance 23provides means through which tying wires, tying clips or other means canbe inserted. The method described and shown in FIGURES 7 and 8 may beapplied on a flat surface or any suitable surface of a rolled steelsection such as a fencing standard, post, structural section or thelike.

It will be obvious that a single hole, as shown in FIG- URE 3, can alsobe made in a plate but then the entry and exit to and from the hole areon opposite sides of the material in which the hole is formed.

The application of the methods of providing single or twin holes can beextended to fencing standards or posts, structural members or the like.

In FIGURE 9, an application of the method according to this invention isshown on a Y-section member in which holes 21 are formed in oppositelimbs by shearing such limbs adjacent or in spaced relationship to theregion of connection of the third limb and forcing the adjacent metalregions 18 outwardly. If it is not desired or found inconvenient topunch holes against or in inclined surfaces, the Y-section may bemodified, as is shown in FIG- URE 10, to introduce steps or shoulders24. The punching shears will then meet faces at right angles to thedirection of operation and such operative action is thus simplifiedwhereas the thickness of the material to be cut is reduced. The strokeof the punching shears may be arranged, if so desired, to continue untilthe deepest point or the nadir 25 is reached. The deformation by astretching or drawing action thus takes place wholly on the opposedlimbs of the section and not on the third limb or stem.

In FIGURE 11, the result of the action with two opposing punching shears11 and 12a, to form a single hole, is shown on the web of the well-knownT-bulb fencing standard or post section. Providing the hole 21, as shownin FIGURE 11, however, cuts across the rolling fibres, and thus themethod of providing the hole as shown in FIGURE 12 is preferred.

As shown in FIGURE 12, the direction of the shear cut is arranged atright angles to that shown in FIGURE 11. This has the advantage that theout line lies in the direction of the rolling fibres of the member. Itwill be obvious that the same type of holing as shown in FIG- URE 11 or12 can also be carried out on the double bulb or dumbell fencingstandard or Y-section stern and other sections. If desired, twin holesmay be punched instead of a single hole 21, shown in FIGURES 11 and 12,on the various sections mentioned.

In FIGURES 13 to 16, the application of the method and means accordingto this invention is shown on fencing standards or other sections, andon the types disclosed in the specification of our prior patentapplication Serial No. 30,492.

Twin hole punching, with outward deformation 26 of the apex ridge 27, asis clearly shown in FIGURE 13,

may also be carried out on the section shown. The material adjacent bothsides of the apex ridge 27 is deformed inwardly, as at 28, to providethe aforesaid approaches or lead-ins to the two holes.

Twin hole punching, as described with reference to FIGURES 7 and 8, mayalso be provided in the apex face region 29 of a section, see FIGURE 14,which is void of a longitudinal apex ridge 27.

Single holes or pairs of holes in a standard, post or such sectionpresenting openings directed towards one another and as is shown inFIGURE 15, may be provided to enable fixing clips to be engaged therein,as will be subsequently described with reference to FIG- URES 21 to 24.

In FIGURE 16, another application of the invention is shown where steps24 are purposely provided in the limbs 30 joining the central heavierpart 3 1 of the section shown with the aim of less upward pressure withthe lower punching shears on this central part of material concentrationof the section. The downward and upward deformation and stretching aredone wholly or mainly on the limb material adjacent the central area ofconcentration 3 1 of the section. It will be obvious that a hole 21, asshown in FIGURE 16, can be brought about at any desired position on theside limb or limbs of the section by the method of producing holes, asdescribed. To facilitate the punching, although not essential, shouldersor flattened portions 24 can be provided at any desired position on thelimbs 30 of the section.

With sections as shown in FIGURES 9, 10, 13 and 16, due to their shapeand the fact that the limbs being cut fall or taper away rapidly fromthe initial point of cut, less rake on the deforming parts of thepunching shears is necessary. Sufiicient rake should, however, beprovided to release the punching shears easily, and to force the punchesagainst each other to obtain a cut free from burr or fin. The lead-insor approaches to the hole on such sections are thus nearer to being atright angles to the plane of the shear cut, i.e. to the holes, thusfacilitating threading of line or tying wires or attaching clips.

If particularly desired, a hole somewhat smaller than the final requiredsize can be formed, according to the method and means of this invention,while by a subsequent operation the direction of the hole can bereorientated and the hole enlarged and also changed in shape, if sodesired. Such reorientation and enlarging or suchlike action can beeffected by drifting, in which case the already deformed material issupported at the opposite side of the entrance of the drift to preventstretching further away from the parent material, thus allowingdeformation in this subsequent operation in a direction along the planeof the material being punched. To create suflicient entrance for thedrift, the rake on both upper and lower shearing punches 11 and 12a mustbe sufiicient so as to allow the displaced material to move further awayfrom the plane of shearing and so creating a hole at a greater angle tothe plane of the material being punched.

The major advantage arising from using the method and means according tothis invention of punching relatively small holes in relatively thickmetallic members is that such small holes can be punched with relativelyrobust punching shears. The size of the hole is determined by theinclinations and shapes of the punching shear cutting contours combinedwith the stroke of the punching or cutting action and the extent ofoverlap of the punching shears. For example, if the two punching shears11a and 12d, see FIGURES and 6, are used, then it will be apparent thatwith a very slight overlap in stroke a very small hole can be cut withrelatively robust punching shears according to the method as describedwith reference to FIGURES 3 and 4.

As shown in FIGURES 17, 18, 19 and 20, twin opposing holes can be formedon either side of the bulb 31 at the apex of a bell-shaped fencingstandard section without weakening the bulb at the apex.

FIGURE 17 shows a vertical cross-section through the section with thepunching shearing tools 11 (upper) and 12 (lower) in position prior tothe operation of punch shearing of a pair of opposing holes.

FIGURE 18 shows a vertical cross-section through the centre line of thetwin holes formed after completion of the punch shearing stroke by thetools 11 and 12b. Only the upper part of the section is shown.

FIGURE is also a cross-section through the section, drawn to a largerscale and through a shear punched hole according to the invention afterretraction of the punching shears.

FIGURE 19 is a side view of FIGURE 20 showing the hole 21. It will benoticed that there is an upsetting action in a downward direction on thelimbs of the section by the pressure of the upper tools 1 1. The lowertools 12b force the centre region of the section 31 upwards, to someextent, as at 32, as well as bending of the portions 33 of the limbs 30,next to this central area 31, also in an upward direction.

The aforesaid clips for attaching line wires to fencing posts, standardsor droppers, and as shown in FIGURES 21, 22, 23 and 24, comprisestaple-like metallic elements 35 of V-shape which are driven in respectof their prongs 36 into twin holes 21 formed, as shown in FIGURE 15,after being placed transversely across a :line wire 37. The prongs 36,when driving the clip 35 home, spread outwardly and are subsequentlybent inwardly towards one another, as shown at 38 in FIGURE 24. Theinward final bending of the prong ends can be effected by a hammeringaction. If desired, the outwardly directed protuberanccs 18 maysubsequently be hammered back again so as to close the holes somewhatand to grip the clip.

The clip fastening, in accordance with FIGURES 21 to 24, is intendedmainly for fastening fence wires to posts, poles and the like. This,however, is not the only application of the invention. FIGURE 25 showsthe fastening of ceiling netting 39 for a dummy or sub-ceiling or liningto channel members 40 provided with holes produced according to themethod and means of this invention. In bottom flanges 41 of channels 40,holes 2 1 are cut in the manner described. The wire netting 39 is placedagainst the bottom flanges 41 of the channels 40 from below and kept inposition by wires 42 which thread through the holes 21. Reinforcingwires 43 can be used as well and also tied by binding wires 42.

In the application of the invention, as shown in FIG- URE 26, the holesare used for receiving clips 44 which may be employed to hold cables 45underneath flanges 46 of beam 47, or pipe lines 48 on flanges 46. Anadvantage of this invention is obvious from the applications shown inFIGURES 25 and 26. The bottom flanges 41 of the channels 4% in FIGURE 25and the bottom flanges 46 of the beam 47 in FIGURE 26 are usually intension as structural members. The method of providing a cut along therolling fibres without removal of metal reduces the strength of suchflanges to an insignificant degree as compared with the position whencircular holes are made in the section.

Lighting fittings, ornaments or such-like items can be fastened in asimilar manner.

The invention can also be used for further applications such as forputting up scaffolding, fixing of reinforcements in concrete or othermaterial. It offers in addition, special advantages both for theinexpensive production of holes in structural members and the toolingthereafter as well as for various other applications.

Another major advantage arising from using the method and means of shearpunching holes according to this invention is that material of harderquality or higher tensile strength than mild steel can be punched whereconventiona1 means are difiicult or not practicable. The contours of thecutting edges of the punch-like shearing and metal deforming tools,i.e., widths of cut and bluntness of point together with the adjustmentof the rake of the non-shearing parts of the tools, must be varied tosuit the hardness of the material to be cut. A sharp point with steepsides to the tool, resulting in a narrow cut, will cause rupture of theindented material more readily than a blunt point with a broad cut,where the pressure and deformation is spread over a greater area ofmaterial to be cut.

It will be obvious that it higher tensile material is used for, say,rolled steel fencing standards, posts or droppers, the strength of thesection is very much increased over mild steel. Furthermore, it is agreat advantage to the manufacturer to have a wide range of steelqualities from which such products can be manufactured.

Another advantage obtained by providing holes with the method and meansaccording to this invention, is that the member is weakened to a muchlesser extent than when holes of conventional type are punched clear outof the member. There is no metal removed from the member according tothe method and means of this invention and the metal deformed adjacentsuch hole or holes remains to contribute towards the strength of themember. There is also no loss in weight of the member due to thepunching of the holes therein.

I claim:

1. A method of producing holes in metallic profiled members, comprisingthe steps of shearing the member at two spaced associated positions toform short juxtaposed shear cuts, and deforming the metal adjacent theshear cuts in at least two zones, said two zones being deformed in thesame direction from the metallic member and one zone being located onone side of one of the shear cuts and the other zone being located onthe other side of the other of the shear outs, each zone being deformedto a maximum extent adjacent the shear cut of substantially thethickness of the metal at the shear cut and decreasing smoothly andgradually transversely away from the shear out until it merges smoothlywith the undeformed metal, the shearing and deformation being effectedsubstantially simultaneously without removal of metal to form a pair ofassociated holes.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 in which the metal in a deformedzone is deformed so as to have the shape of a substantially hood-likescalloped shell.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the inner concave edge of ascalloped deformation at its point of maximum deformation lies withinthe outer surfaces of the non-deformed portion of the metal.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2 in which the inner concave edge of ascalloped deformation at its point of maximum, deformation extends onlyslightly beyond an outer surface of the non-deformed portion of themetal.

5. A method of producing holes in metallic profiled members, comprisingthe steps of shearing the member at two spaced associated positions toform short juxtaposed shear cuts, and deforming the metal in zonesadjacent the shear cuts, the two zones on the sides of the shear cutswhich are adjacent each other being deformed in one direction and thetwo zones on the sides of the shear cuts which are remote from eachother being deformed in the other direction, each zone being deformed toa maximum extent adjacent the shear cut of substantially the thicknessof the metal at the shear cut and decreasing smoothly and graduallytransversely away from the shear cut until it merges smoothly with theundeformed metal, the shearing and deformation being eifectedsubstantially simultaneously without removal of metal to form a pair ofassociated holes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS493,791 Schurig Mar. 21, 1893 2,007,374 Kuehne July 9, 1935 2,185,885Bruker Jan. 2, 1940 2,228,494 Wilson Jan. 14, 1941 2,620,879 FechterDec. 9, 1952 2,728,316 'Oberg et al. Dec. 27, 1955 2,912,513 Robinson etal. Nov. 10, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 292,997 Italy Feb. 6, 1932

1. A METHOD OF PRODUCING HOLES IN METALLIC PROFILED MEMBERS, COMPRISINGTHE STEPS OF SHEARING THE MEMBER AT TWO SPACED ASSOCIATED POSITIONS TOFORM SHORT JUXTAPOSED SHEAR CUTS, AND DEFORMING THE METAL ADJACENT THESHEAR CUTS IN AT LEAST TWO ZONES, SAID TWO ZONES BEING DEFORMED IN THESAME DIRECTION FROM THE METALLIC MEMBER AND ONE ZONE BEING LOCATED ONONE SIDE OF ONE OF THE SHEAR CUTS AND THE OTHER ZONE BEING LOCATED ONTHE OTHER SIDE OF THE OTHER OF THE SHEAR CUTS, EACH ZONE BEING DEFORMEDTO A MAXIMUM EXTENT ADJACENT THE SHEAR CUT OF SUBSTANTIALLY THETHICKNESS OF THE METAL AT THE SHEAR CUT AND DECREASING SMOOTHLY ANDGRADUALLY TRANSVERSELY AWAY FROM THE SHEAR CUT UNTIL IT MERGES SMOOTHLYWITH THE UNDEFORMED METAL, THE SHEARING AND DEFORMATION BEING EFFECTEDSUBSTANTIALLY SIMULTANEOUSLY WITHOUT REMOVAL OF METAL TO FORM A PAIR OFASSOCIATED HOLES.